Rockets End Skid: Durant and Sengun Drive 110-100 Victory

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Durant scored 23 points and center Alperen Sengun added 20 to help the team defeat the Denver Nuggets 110-100 on Monday night. The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Rockets, who had previously lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns after starting the season 7-1.

The game featured a dramatic shift in momentum during the third quarter. Houston led by 16 points early in that period, but the Nuggets responded with an 18-2 run to tie the score at 60-60 with five minutes remaining in the quarter. Denver capitalized on nine consecutive missed shots and two turnovers by Houston. The only points for the Rockets in that stretch came from two free throws by Durant.

Tari Eason scored the Rockets' first field goal in more than six and a half minutes with about four minutes left in the third quarter. His basket started an 11-2 run that gave Houston a 71-62 lead. Fred VanVleet extended the gap later in the game with a three-pointer, helping push the lead to 96-87 with five and a half minutes left.

Denver's Jamal Murray finished with 38 points in his fourth game this season with at least 34 points. His four-point burst late in the game cut the lead to four points with less than seven minutes remaining. However, Christian Braun missed two free throws shortly after, allowing Sengun and Amen Thompson to score and extend the lead to 100-90 with four minutes left.

Nikola Jokic contributed 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists for Denver. The Nuggets will travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Houston will host the Golden State Warriors at home on the same evening.